Richard Portnow

Richard Portnow

1947-01-26 Brooklyn - New York - USA 104 Credits

Biography

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Richard Portnow (born January 26, 1947) is a prolific American character actor who played Howard Stern's father, Ben in the movie Private Parts. He has appeared on The Sopranos and many other films, video games, and television shows such as Hannah Montana and Boston Legal.

Known For

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Complete Filmography

Dog Patrol

Dog Patrol

2025

as Oscar Golden

Acting

Samuel and his friends along with his trusted dog Athena have to go for the adventure of a lifetime, matching wits with a mob boss to solve Oscar's ri...

Roe v. Wade

Roe v. Wade

2021

as Justice William Douglas

5.5
Acting

Dr. Bernard Nathanson and Dr. Mildred Jefferson square off in a national battle in this untold conspiracy that led to the most famous and controversia...

Frank and Ava

Frank and Ava

2020

as Walter Winchell

5.1
Acting

A destitute Frank Sinatra pursues sultry starlet Ava Gardner while campaigning for the lead in 'From Here to Eternity'.

Stakeout

Stakeout

2019

as Pat Reed

5.6
Acting

A young private investigator in LA tows the line between danger and heartbreak as he tries to help a woman to commit fraud in order to get the money h...

Holly Day

Holly Day

2018

as Benny

6.5
Acting

In a twist on a Dickens novel, we meet Holly, a tightly-wound businesswoman who's spent her life running from the ghosts of her past. But this holiday...

Higher Power

Higher Power

2018

as Charles Margrey

5.0
Acting

When the Universe decides what it wants, it's pointless to resist. With his family's life at stake, Joseph Steadman finds himself the unwilling test s...

Andover

Andover

2018

as Shamus Trout

5.2
Acting

Genetics professor Adam Slope clones his wife Dawn after she dies in a fire but the woman he creates is different than the woman he loved, so he tries...

Café Society

Café Society

2016

as Walt

6.5
Acting

The story of a young man who arrives in Hollywood during the 1930s hoping to work in the film industry, falls in love, and finds himself swept up in t...

Trumbo

Trumbo

2015

as Louis B. Mayer

7.2
Acting

The career of screenwriter Dalton Trumbo is halted by a witch hunt in the late 1940s when he defies the anti-communist HUAC committee and is blacklist...

Parallel

2015

as Stewart

6.0
Acting

A brilliant mathematician travels through time and space in search of the knowledge that would allow him to control his life and alter the events of h...

Nanny Cam

Nanny Cam

2014

as Detective Jones

5.7
Acting

Linda has a seemingly perfect marriage with her rugged and handsome husband Mark and an adorable 8 year old daughter, Chloe. But when Chloe is injured...

This Last Lonely Place

This Last Lonely Place

2014

as Jason Pure

6.5
Acting

On his last night on the job, an unsuspecting LA cab driver gets roped into helping a wealthy investment banker cover up a brutal crime.

Oldboy

Oldboy

2013

as Bernie Sharkey

5.9
Acting

A man has only three and a half days and limited resources to discover why he was imprisoned in a nondescript room for 20 years without any explanatio...

Underdogs

Underdogs

2013

as John Handon II

5.7
Acting

The story of a small-town high school football team in rural Ohio destined to play their cross-town rival, a perennial powerhouse, while standing up f...

In the Dark

In the Dark

2013

as Detective Archer

5.0
Acting

Aspiring artist Ali must rebuild her life after a tragic accident kills her husband and their young child, and leaves her blind. Life in the dark prov...

Hitchcock

Hitchcock

2012

as Barney Balaban

6.6
Acting

Following his great success with "North by Northwest," director Alfred Hitchcock makes a daring choice for his next project: an adaptation of Robert B...

A Night of Nightmares

2012

as Cliff Tanner

Acting

When the world is infected by a devastating disease a man is forced to take shelter in his home.

2 Jacks

2 Jacks

2012

as Lorenzo

5.4
Acting

Jack Hussar is a legendary Hollywood director, whose persona commands respect and adoration from his fans. Can his son, Jack Jr. maintain his legacy?

Imaginary Friend

Imaginary Friend

2012

as Dan

4.9
Acting

During her traumatic childhood with an abusive father, Emma relied on an imaginary friend for strength. She is now an artist struggling with mental il...

The Christmas Pageant

The Christmas Pageant

2011

as Leo Brenner

5.9
Acting

Vera Parks, an overly intense and demanding Broadway director, gets fired from yet another job, leaving her no choice but to take a gig directing a sm...

The Wish List

The Wish List

2010

as Lenny

6.5
Acting

Sarah Fisher, an overly organized, by-the-numbers kind of woman, makes a "wish list" of all the qualities and traits her future husband should have. A...

Killer by Nature

Killer by Nature

2010

as Walter

3.3
Acting

The troubled teenager Owen Whitmore has a sleep disorder and occasionally sleepwalks. Owen is having therapy sessions with Dr. Katherine Ramos. Having...

Law Abiding Citizen

Law Abiding Citizen

2009

as Bill Reynolds

7.4
Acting

A frustrated man decides to take justice into his own hands after a plea bargain sets one of his family's killers free. He targets not only the killer...

Life Is Hot in Cracktown

Life Is Hot in Cracktown

2009

as Guy from 4 K

6.0
Acting

Various stories of how crack cocaine has infiltrated the inner-city streets. Based on Buddy Giovinazzo's novel "Life is Hot in Cracktown".

The Minis

The Minis

2009

as Jack

2.2
Acting

A talented team of basketball players made up of little people enters a tournament to help a teammate's son go to college.

Under New Management

Under New Management

2009

as Carmello Conforte

4.7
Acting

Sparks and bullets fly when a Wall Street yuppie must steer a Brooklyn mob crew legit before a beautiful FBI agent can build RICO indictments against ...

The Spirit

The Spirit

2008

as Donenfeld

4.8
Acting

A Rookie cop named Denny Colt returns from the beyond as The Spirit, a hero whose mission is to fight against the bad forces from the shadows of Centr...

Good Time Max

Good Time Max

2008

as Head Administrator

5.3
Acting

Two genius brothers grow up and grow apart as one becomes a successful surgeon and the other pursues a drug-fueled high life.

Tinker Bell

Tinker Bell

2008

as Minister of Autumn (voice)

6.9
Acting

Journey into the secret world of Pixie Hollow and hear Tinker Bell speak for the very first time as the astonishing story of Disney's most famous fair...

Chasing Robert

Chasing Robert

2007

as Ed Thorton

2.0
Acting

Alan is a gambler desperate to erase the huge sports debt he owes to a cruel but quirky Chicago mobster.

Perfect Stranger

Perfect Stranger

2007

as Narron

5.8
Acting

A journalist goes undercover to ferret out businessman Harrison Hill as her best friend's killer. Posing as one of his temps, she enters into a game o...

The Indian

The Indian

2007

as Elliot

6.2
Acting

"The Indian" is a touching drama about a negligent father who must face the son he abandoned years earlier, and the emotional wreckage he caused, in o...

National Lampoon's TV: The Movie

National Lampoon's TV: The Movie

2006

as Sergeant

4.2
Acting

A celebration of the ever increasing depravity of television in our society-- it's a channel surfing adventure through the most utterly ridiculous spo...

Find Me Guilty

Find Me Guilty

2006

as Max Novardis

6.6
Acting

Based on the true story of Jack DiNorscio, a mobster who defended himself in court for what would be the longest mafia trial in U.S. history.

Meet the Mobsters

Meet the Mobsters

2005

as Jerry Kaminski

6.9
Acting

Down-and-out lounge singer Johnny Slade is hired by a mystery man to open a hot new club, the catch being he's given a new--and terrible--song to sing...

Trump Unauthorized

Trump Unauthorized

2005

as Mayor Ed Koch

3.2
Acting

A look at the life of real estate king/media mogul/reality TV star, Donald Trump.

Under the City

Under the City

2005

as Minks

Acting
Tony n' Tina's Wedding

Tony n' Tina's Wedding

2004

as Vinnie Black

5.1
Acting

Tony and Tina are excited to get married but they dread having the ceremony. Tina's mother and Tony's father used to be an item and neither parent has...

Poolhall Junkies

Poolhall Junkies

2002

as Toupee Jay

6.4
Acting

A retired pool hustler is forced to pick up the stick again when his brother starts a game he can't finish.

Double Bang

Double Bang

2001

as Lieutenant Shatkin

4.6
Acting

An honest cop enters the dark world of murder and corruption.

Zigs

Zigs

2001

as Arnold Zigman

3.5
Acting

Four young gamblers come up with a plan to get out of debt with a fixed game.

Laughter on the 23rd Floor

Laughter on the 23rd Floor

2001

as Harry Prince

3.8
Acting

Inspired by Neil Simon's early career experience as a junior writer for Your Show of Shows, the play focuses on Sid Caesar/Jackie Gleason-like Max Pri...

The Unscarred

The Unscarred

2000

as Tommy Matolla

5.0
Acting

Four exchange students meet in Berlin 20 years after graduating but picking up where they left off doesn't turn out to be as easy as they had hoped.

The Ghost of Spoon River

The Ghost of Spoon River

2000

as Agent Cicarelli

3.3
Acting

A big-city lawyer is called home to defend a local man accused of murder. Based on the Spoon River Anthology

Happy Accidents

Happy Accidents

2000

as Trip

6.8
Acting

A comedy that pays tribute to the science fiction genre -- specifically, the sub-genre of time travel. But here the alternate reality is contemporary ...

Fallen Arches

Fallen Arches

2000

as Nicky Kaplan

Acting

Transplanted from New York, Duke and his brother Frankie Romano live in a rundown LA apartment with their alcoholic mother (Karen Black).

Witness Protection

Witness Protection

1999

as Niko

6.4
Acting

Would you be willing to walk away from everyone and everything you've ever known in exchange for your safety? This is the question facing career crimi...

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

1999

as Handsome Frank

7.3
Acting

An African-American Mafia hit man who models himself after the samurai of ancient Japan finds himself targeted for death by the mob.

The Substitute 3: Winner Takes All

The Substitute 3: Winner Takes All

1999

as Vincent Lo Russo

4.9
Acting

At a college visit to a war buddy's professor daughter, mercenary Treat Williams finds her brutally beaten. He then poses as a teacher to teach a less...

Ballad of the Nightingale

Ballad of the Nightingale

1999

as Arnie D'Angelo

4.0
Acting

A down-on-her luck prostitute embarks on a wild adventure that puts her in contact with the Mafia.

Road Kill

Road Kill

1999

as Charboneau

5.5
Acting

Alex is the film student forced by his college professor to stop making Jackie Chan "homage" films and make "something from the heart" in order to gra...

Postal Worker

Postal Worker

1998

as Dr. Nicolas Brink

3.7
Acting

A time bomb is ticking in a small regional postal facility and his name is Oren Starks (Brad Garrett). Oren fits the profile of a new breed of killers...

Milo

Milo

1998

as Lieutenant Parker

4.3
Acting

Four young grade-school girls witness the murder of one of their classmates during what they thought was just an innocent game. The killer is a strang...

Desert Thunder

Desert Thunder

1998

as Adm. Le Clair

4.1
Acting

Terrorists threaten to launch a missile armed with deadly disease at Europe. A special unit is put together to stop them.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

1998

as Wine Colored Tuxedo

7.2
Acting

Raoul Duke and his attorney Dr. Gonzo drive a red convertible across the Mojave desert to Las Vegas with a suitcase full of drugs to cover a motorcycl...

My Giant

My Giant

1998

as Producer

5.2
Acting

Sammy, an agitated agent lost in the forest of the modern world, happens upon a gentle giant with a tall talent for friendship named Max.

Shadow of Doubt

Shadow of Doubt

1998

as Marvin Helm

4.7
Acting

An attorney uncovers a political conspiracy in the brutal killing of a wealthy young woman.

Lured Innocence

Lured Innocence

1997

as Jack Shelby

4.1
Acting

A reporter sent to cover a murder trial discovers a web of deceit stemming from a torrid affair.

Guy

Guy

1997

as Al

2.7
Acting

A filmmaker picks a "real" subject to shoot, and when she sees Guy on the street, she latches onto him. At first, Guy is enraged that someone is just ...

Bella Mafia

Bella Mafia

1997

as Anthony Moreno

6.6
Acting

Following the brutal murder of her husband and male kin, Sophia unites with her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law, in a fierce quest for vengeance agai...

Mad City

Mad City

1997

as Brackett's Agent

6.2
Acting

A misguided museum guard who loses his job and then tries to get it back at gunpoint is thrown into the fierce world of ratings-driven TV gone mad.

Private Parts

Private Parts

1997

as Ben Stern

6.5
Acting

The life and career of shock-jock superstar Howard Stern is recounted from his humble beginnings to his view from the top. Possessing a desire to be a...

Bogus

Bogus

1996

as M. Clay Thrasher

5.8
Acting

Recently orphaned, a young boy is taken in by his godmother who is shocked to realize that she can see the boy's imaginary friend: a flamboyant, Frenc...

Donor Unknown

1995

as Hal Cooney

8.0
Acting

Type A insurance fraud investigator Nick Stillman has his life extended by a heart transplant, only to be dismayed to discover that his donor was murd...

Se7en

Se7en

1995

as Dr. Beardsley

8.4
Acting

Two homicide detectives are on a desperate hunt for a serial killer whose crimes are based on the "seven deadly sins" in this dark and haunting film t...

Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Lightning

Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Lightning

1995

as Monaghan

4.5
Acting

In New York two detectives of the 87th precinct are initially baffled by the brutal, ritualistic slayings of several young women. Through good detecti...

Man of the House

Man of the House

1995

as Joey Renda

5.3
Acting

Ben Archer is not happy. His mother, Sandy, has just met a man, and it looks like things are pretty serious. Driven by a fear of abandonment, Ben trie...

Lipstick Camera

Lipstick Camera

1994

as Detective Vorkopich

3.2
Acting

Ambitious young woman wants to get into TV news. She borrows a small camera from a friend and obtains incriminating pictures that two former East Germ...

Across the Moon

Across the Moon

1994

as Roy

3.7
Acting

Two young women bond while living together out in the California desert to be close to their boyfriends who are serving time at the nearby state priso...

S.F.W.

S.F.W.

1994

as Gerald Parsley

6.0
Acting

An alienated and misanthropic teenager gains sudden and unwanted celebrity status after he's taken hostage by terrorists where his indifference to the...

Trial by Jury

Trial by Jury

1994

as Leo Greco

5.4
Acting

Valerie is a juror in the trial of a mob boss. When her young son's life is threatened, she has no option other than to see that justice isn't done.

Dragstrip Girl

Dragstrip Girl

1994

as Det. Dryden

4.0
Acting

Johnny is a bad guy trying to go straight and becomes smitten with Laura, a wealthy good girl who is rebelling against her parents, all set among the ...

Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice

Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice

1994

Acting

Ray investigates the murder of a psychiatrist.

Based on an Untrue Story

Based on an Untrue Story

1993

as Disturbing Caller

4.2
Acting

Perfume creator Satin Chau is about to reveal her new designer scent, 'Puppy,' when she is cruelly struck down by a rare condition called anosmia, whi...

Night Eyes 3

Night Eyes 3

1993

as Kaplan

4.2
Acting

A security guard falls for a famous TV actress he is hired to protect while dealing with mobsters who want his hide for some sour business deal.

Heart and Souls

Heart and Souls

1993

as Max Marco

6.9
Acting

A fateful night in 1959, four people die when the bus they are riding crashes. They continue as ghosts; their souls become eternally entwined to the l...

There Goes the Neighborhood

There Goes the Neighborhood

1992

as Marty Rollins

5.4
Acting

A dying prisoner whispers the location of his loot to the facility's psychologist, who heads to the New Jersey suburbs to find it. Two prisoners overh...

Sister Act

Sister Act

1992

as Willy

6.8
Acting

A Reno singer witnesses a mob murder and the cops stash her in a nunnery to protect her from the mob's hitmen. The mother superior does not trust her,...

Beethoven

Beethoven

1992

as Ammunition Company Representative (uncredited)

5.8
Acting

The Newton family live in their comfortable home, but there seems to something missing. This "hole" is filled by a small puppy, who walks into their h...

Father of the Bride

Father of the Bride

1991

as Al - the Tux Salesman

6.5
Acting

George Banks is an ordinary, middle-class man whose 22 year-old daughter Annie has decided to marry a man from an upper-class family, but George can't...

For the Boys

For the Boys

1991

as Milt, Recording Studio

6.2
Acting

Talented USO entertainer Dixie Leonard and comedian Eddie Sparks deal with their relationship over the course of 5 decades from World War II to the Vi...

Barton Fink

Barton Fink

1991

as Detective Mastrionotti

7.5
Acting

A renowned New York playwright is enticed to California to write for the movies and discovers the hellish truth of Hollywood.

Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster

Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster

1991

as Dave Barrett

6.5
Acting

A gangster who has commited all kinds of crimes is accused to have killed his wife. As he was not the murderer in this case Perry Mason intents to fin...

Kindergarten Cop

Kindergarten Cop

1990

as Captain Salazar

6.1
Acting

Hard-edged cop John Kimble gets more than he bargained for when he goes undercover as a kindergarten teacher to get the goods on a brutal drug lord wh...

Havana

Havana

1990

as Mike MacClaney

5.8
Acting

During the revolution, a high-stakes gambler arrives in Cuba seeking to win big in poker games. Along the way, he meets and falls in love with the wif...

Tune in Tomorrow...

Tune in Tomorrow...

1990

as Uncle Luke

5.3
Acting

Martin works at the local radio station, which just hired a new scriptwriter with a reputation for great drama, Pedro Carmichael. Martin’s aunt Julia,...

Chattahoochee

Chattahoochee

1990

as Dr. Debner

5.7
Acting

In 1955 Florida, a Korean vet has a breakdown and is incarcerated in a "maximum security" mental health prison, where patients are abused.

Meet the Hollowheads

Meet the Hollowheads

1989

as Mr. Crabneck

5.8
Acting

The Hollowheads are a strange, futuristic family that live in a Jetsons type world complete with many cool gadgets. Henry is hoping for a promotion at...

Peter Gunn

Peter Gunn

1989

as Spiros

4.7
Acting

Peter Gunn, a connoisseur of beautiful women and cool jazz, is an ex-cop turned private eye who's caught in the middle of a dangerous gang war.

A Deadly Silence

A Deadly Silence

1989

as D.A. Ed Jablonski

6.2
Acting

The father of three children was killed when he left his house. This provokes a lot of sentimental emotions in the neighbourhood because the people kn...

Say Anything...

Say Anything...

1989

as Agent Stewart

7.0
Acting

Lloyd, an eternal optimist, seeks to capture the heart of Diane, an unattainable high school beauty and straight-A student. He surprises just about ev...

Original Sin

Original Sin

1989

as Vincent

3.3
Acting

When his son is kidnapped a man has to face his past demons in speaking to a Mafia don about it.

Twins

Twins

1988

as Chop Shop Owner

6.0
Acting

Julius and Vincent Benedict are the results of an experiment that would allow for the perfect child. Julius was planned and grows to athletic proporti...

In Dangerous Company

In Dangerous Company

1988

as Kellog

3.8
Acting

A beautiful woman seduces and tricks a hitman in order to save her own skin.

Good Morning, Vietnam

Good Morning, Vietnam

1987

as Dan 'The Man' Levitan

7.3
Acting

A disk jockey goes to Vietnam to work for the Armed Forces Radio Service. While he becomes popular among the troops, his superiors disapprove of his h...

Perry Mason: The Case of the Murdered Madam

Perry Mason: The Case of the Murdered Madam

1987

as Harry Long

6.8
Acting

Perry investigates the murder of a former madam and uncovers a multimillion dollar banking fraud in the process.

The Squeeze

The Squeeze

1987

as Ruben

4.8
Acting

Harry Berg is both a con artist and an actual artist -- he constructs large sculptures out of television sets -- but he is not particularly successful...

The House of Blue Leaves

The House of Blue Leaves

1987

as Billy Einhorn

Acting

On the day in 1965 that the Pope visits New York and masses of people line the streets in adulation, Artie, a zookeeper living in Sunnyside, Queens, t...

Tin Men

Tin Men

1987

as Carly

6.3
Acting

A minor car accident drives two rival aluminum-siding salesmen to the ridiculous extremes of man versus man in 1963 Baltimore.

Radio Days

Radio Days

1987

as Sy

7.1
Acting

The Narrator tells us how the radio influenced his childhood in the days before TV. In the New York City of the late 1930s to the New Year's Eve 1944,...

Wanted: Dead or Alive

Wanted: Dead or Alive

1987

as Agent

5.9
Acting

Nick Randall is a Los Angeles-based bounty hunter and an ex-CIA operative who is asked by a former co-worker to help track down terrorist Malak Al Rah...

Courage

Courage

1986

as Frankie Ce De Baca

5.7
Acting

A mother in Queens, New York, outraged when she discovers that her son is a drug addict, becomes an undercover agent for the DEA to clean up the drug ...

Desperately Seeking Susan

Desperately Seeking Susan

1985

as Party Guest

6.1
Acting

A bored New Jersey suburban housewife's fascination with a free-spirited woman she has read about in the personal columns leads to her being mistaken ...

Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer

Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer

1983

as Bartender

Acting

A New York detective and a victim's colleague hunt a killer who preys on single women.